When I paint something like "The Game," I'm not just showing a sports moment. I'm thinking about all the other stuff that comes with sports. I think about how people group together, memories, loyalty, who we are, politics, and physical action. Yes, it's baseball. But it's also a lot more.
Sports as a Mirror
Sports art shows us who we are. It's not just where athletes play. Sports is where fans connect their identity and pride. You cheer for your team because that team often stands for something more: your city, how you live, or even what you believe. The catcher waiting for a pitch might remind someone in the stands of their childhood.
Tribal Paint
Painting sports isn't just about sports. Even when I'm trying to show movement or strength, I know that in the batter's swing or the pitcher's stance there is something bigger. People form groups around these players. There's a reason fans wear team jerseys like armor and paint their faces before games. I'm painting uniforms. But I'm also painting how people connect to each other.
The Politics Between the Lines
You don't have to look hard to find politics in sports. Who gets to play? Who doesn't. Who becomes famous? Who gets forgotten? Who makes money? Who gets ignored? I don't always think about this while painting, but these questions show up anyway, mixing into my brain while I paint. With black and white paint, the differences feel stronger. The choices are clearer.
Art at the Heart of the Arena
As an artist, I'm always dealing with meaning. Sometimes I put it there on purpose, sometimes the viewer finds their own meaning. But that's how art works. "The Game" started with shapes, movement, and paint. But when I stepped back, I saw memories, identity, division, unity, and feeling.
